hotfoot

American  

[hot-foot] / ˈhɒtˌfʊt /

noun

hotfoots plural

1. a practical joke in which a match, inserted surreptitiously between the sole and upper of the victim's shoe, is lighted and allowed to burn down.

---

verb (used without object)

1. Informal. to go in great haste; walk or run hurriedly or rapidly (often followed byit ).

   to hotfoot it to the bus stop.

adverb

1. with great speed in going; in haste.

hotfoot British  

/ ˈhɒtˌfʊt /

adverb

1. with all possible speed; quickly

---

verb

1. to move quickly

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• hotfoots
  plural

Etymology

Origin of hotfoot

1250–1300; Middle English hot fot (adv.). See hot, foot

Example Sentences

Washington has been getting poked in the eye, given the hotfoot, had bubble gum put on its hat or had its pants pulled down in public since 1901 by the “national pastime.”

From Washington Post • Oct. 11, 2019

The smart sneakers will stymie your prankster buddies when they stoop down to surreptitiously give you a hotfoot.

From Slate • Mar. 4, 2019

I decided to take time off work the very next day and hotfoot it to Tel Aviv, to get ahead of any competitors.

From The New Yorker • Jan. 7, 2019

So, what say you and me hotfoot it to the airport and get on to that plane.

From New York Times • Feb. 1, 2018

"Who really gave me that hotfoot?" he asked after a moment.

From "Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher" by Bruce Coville